Haaretz: The European Commission to Discuss Tomorrow Suspension of the Free Trade Agreement with Israel

Following up on the SadaNews Economy - The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that a source in the European Union stated that "the EU Commission will discuss tomorrow a temporary suspension of the free trade agreement with Israel in light of the ongoing war on Gaza."

This European move comes amid rising criticisms within the corridors of the European Union regarding the continuation of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and triggered a wave of popular and official anger in several European countries. Prominent figures, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have called for a reconsideration of trade relations with Israel, stating that "famine should not be used as a weapon of war."

Despite the increasing calls for suspending the agreement, reaching a unified decision still faces obstacles due to the division among member states. While countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Sweden support the suspension, other countries like Germany and Hungary oppose this move, complicating the attainment of a qualified majority.

For its part, the Israeli occupation government described these moves as "yielding to political pressures," with the Israeli foreign minister considering Von der Leyen's statements as "unfortunate," noting that Israel is making efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, and that the suffering in Gaza is "caused by Hamas."